~ Reviews of film, theatre, music, art and all that

Tag Archives: Neruda

Pablo Neruda, yes the poet, is in hiding, on the run.

And a policeman, who may be a creation of his poetic imagination, is on his trail.

Two aspects make up the film: flight, pursuit, and all the associated intrigue; and the poet and his work, the power of poetry to eat away at everything, even Neruda’s pursuer. Gradually, this poetic facility creates a symbolism that undermines the suspense and you are left with a meandering affair.

One wonderful scene, mind, stands out. It is the one where a transgendered singer bares his soul during a police interrogation. Otherwise, there is too much poete maudit cliche.

This trio make marvellous music, complementing each other perfectly.

Norma Winstone’s voice is one of the treasures of modern jazz and her intelligent, highly literate lyrics (the song ‘The Mermaid’ took its inspiration from a poem by Neruda) range from the melancholy to the playful. You’d place the ‘ladies in Mercedes’ song among the latter, and you’d have to be a stone not to take delight in it.

The clarinet and saxophone of Klaus Gesing gave propulsion and drive to the music, while Glauco Venier on piano was inventive and boyishly impish in his playing. Listening to these three consummate musicians on a balmy summer’s evening was like sipping a drink that was cool and copacetic but with a definite kick. It was a pleasure, but not a light or an innocuous one.

Oh, and the lady’s summer dress was stunning, about as vibrantly colourful and effortlessly elegant as her voice.